2008 discharge: European Medicines Agency EMEA

Based on the observations contained in the revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for the financial year 2008, as well as on the Court of Auditor’s report and the Agency’s replies to the Court’s observations, the Council recommends that the Parliament grant the Director of the Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2008.

The Council welcomes the Court's opinion that, on the one hand, the Agency's annual accounts present fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position as at 31 December 2008 and the results of operations and cash-flows for the year then ended, in accordance with the provisions of the Agency's Financial Regulation, and that, on the other hand, the underlying transactions for the financial year ended on 31 December 2008 are, in all material respects, legal and regular.

However, the Council considers that observations made in the Court of Auditor’s report call for a certain number of observations to be taken into account when granting discharge, particularly on the following points:

• carry-over rates: the Council reiterates that the persistently high carry-over rates, in particular for administrative expenditure, necessitate improvements. It urges the Agency to follow the Court's recommendations and to make every effort to comply fully with the provisions of the Financial Regulation, in particular those regarding the annuality principle;
• tendering procedures: the Council notes the Court's findings on weaknesses in the tendering procedures and calls on the Agency to continue its efforts to improve the quality of its public procurement procedures.